The tale of two teams

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Cape Town - The Tale of Two Teams
might be the book title when describing South Africa and counterparts
Malaysia’s fortunes at men’s Hockey World Cup 2014 here in Holland.

They face-off in the 11th/12th place playoff match at
1.30pm in the Kyocera Stadium Thursday and it is a difficult one to call as far
as a winner is concerned.

Both finished bottom of their Groups, both are winless, and both have suffered
similar ailments. Unforced errors in defence and attack, leaking soft goals and
blowing chances in the strike zone have been the themes.

Linked to this – and possibly the central theme – far too much ball has been
given away or turned over by their sharper opponents.

Head coach Fabian Gregory’s SA side were desperately unlucky not to beat world
number seven South Korea in their 0-0 draw in Group B and victory there would
have guaranteed at least a 9th/10th playoff match – not
bad for a side that only got together as a group of 18 two weeks before the opening
match.

Yet here have been moments of sublime hockey from the African champs, none more
so than University of Johannesburg midfielder Clint Panther’s wonderful solo
goal against semi-finals Argentina in Tuesday’s final Group B match for the two
countries.

Malaysia can also point to a 3-2 defeat by India and a 2-0 loss to world number
four England as two Group A matches that saw relatively close scores.

There are other similarities. Both sides have beaten and lost to each other in
the recent past - and SA and Malaysia are 12th and 13th
in the world rankings respectively.

Apart from wanting to avoid bottom place at the four-yearly showpiece, there
are valuable world ranking points at stake.

Cleaning up their mistakes and sharpening the rapier in the strike zone will
serve both sides well in what is a vital match for each.

Gregory, who is director of hockey at Glenwood High School in Durban in his day
job, and his players have bravely faced an uphill battle against professional
teams with full-time, paid players and countries that boast national programmes
and training centres.

But as he has said at post-match Press conferences, South Africa is a proud
nation of eternal optimists – and it that common characteristic in both sides
that might make the difference in what is shaping up as an intriguing battle
that not even the most seasoned observers one dare put money on.

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